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Distress problem domains

NCCN Distress Thermometer Problem List

The NCCN Distress Thermometer Problem List is a yes/no inventory of practical, family, emotional, spiritual, and physical concerns from the past week. This page is catalogue information. It is not a diagnosis.

39 itemsYes/no domainsPast week including todayClinician reviewed

What is the DT Problem List?

The problem list sits beside the 0-10 Distress Thermometer so a cancer team can see what may be driving distress. Domain counts are for clinician review. They do not diagnose a disorder or prescribe treatment.

Development and clinical use

NCCN published the problem list with the Distress Thermometer so services could move from a single rating to named concerns. Confirm the current official form and domain wording before live use.

Catalogue status
Catalogue information
Mode
Patient self-report
Typical use
Establish likely drivers of distress
Domains
Practical, family, emotional, spiritual, physical
Source
NCCN
Clinical role
Driver review

A focused client experience

DT Problem List is completed as a focused self-report and stored for clinician review. This public page does not collect answers or return a score.

  • One question at a time with visible progress
  • Large keyboard-operable response choices
  • Previous, next, and answer-review steps
  • Clear confirmation that results go to the clinic
Client viewQuestion 4 of 39

The illustration shows layout only. It does not reproduce DT Problem List item wording.

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Designed to make evidence easy to review

The downloadable synthetic example illustrates report layout using invented response patterns, without patient data or instrument questions.

  • Named instrument, version, and provenance
  • Item-level response pattern without source wording
  • Methodology, references, and clinical boundary
  • Responsible clinician review rather than automated conclusions
Download the four-page sample
LLIRENASynthetic example
NCCN Distress Thermometer Problem List
ReviewContextSource

Clinician review required

Understand the measure and its scoring conventions

Published scoring conventions may exist in official materials. This public page does not independently verify scoring, cutoffs, or a production scoring rule. Use the official form and scoring instructions for the version you intend to use.

  1. NCCN distress guidanceNational Comprehensive Cancer Network. Distress during cancer care.

What clinics ask before they evaluate the DT Problem List

These answers stay inside educational catalogue scope. They do not replace official manuals or clinician judgement.

Does endorsing a problem diagnose that problem?

No. A yes answer flags a concern for clinician review. It is not a medical or psychiatric diagnosis.

Is this the same as the Distress Thermometer?

No. The thermometer is a 0-10 rating. The problem list is a yes/no inventory of named concerns.

Can I complete the problem list here?

No. This page does not collect answers or return a score.

Do all patients need every domain?

No. Use the list when the team needs to see what is driving distress. The clinician chooses the pack.

See who needs psychosocial attention, why, and whether they are improving.

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